A decrease or loss of the sense of smell is very common in patients with Parkinson's Disease even in the earliest stages of the disease. There have been no treatments that have been proven to improve sense of smell in patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Rasagiline (brand name: Azilect) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 16th 2006 to be used by Parkinson's patients to treat the motor symptoms associated with the disease. The purpose of this study is to see if there is change in sense of smell after starting Rasagiline.

0.5mg of Rasagiline for 14 days, then switch to 1mg of Rasagiline for remainder of the study (approximately 10 weeks total).

Drug: Rasagiline

0.5mg for 14 days, then switch to 1mg for remainder of the study (approximately 10 weeks total)

Other Name: Brand Name: Azilect

Placebo Comparator: Placebo

0.5mg of placebo for 14 days, then switch to 1mg of placebo for remainder of the study (approximately 10 weeks total)

Drug: Placebo

0.5mg for 14 days, then switch to 1mg for remainder of the study (approximately 10 weeks total)

Detailed Description:

This study will last approximately 10 weeks.

2 visits to The Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, California

1 phone call between visits

You will be asked to take either Rasagiline (Azilect) or placebo (an identical pill without active ingredients)

5 in 6 chance of receiving Rasagiline (Azilect)

1 in 6 chance of receiving placebo

Neither you nor the study team will know which you are assigned

This information will be available in case of emergency

To be eligible for this study, you must:

be 90 years old or younger

have a decreased loss of smell or complete loss of smell

have not taken Selegiline or Rasagiline within the past 12 months

have not smoked within the last year

be on a stable dose of Parkinson's medication (or not on any PD medicines)

have no history of head trauma, nasal surgery, nasal inflammation causing congestion or polyps, nasal/sinus infection, or prior Zicam use

have not used decongestants, antihistamine or inhaled steroids within 2 weeks of the study and be willing to avoid such treatments during the study

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

up to 90 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Men and women with Parkinson's Disease (PD), defined as the presence of at least two of the cardinal signs of PD (bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity) without other identifiable cause of parkinsonism or signs of atypical parkinsonism

Functional hyposmia or anosmia, as defined by UPSIT scores less than the 25th percentile for age- and gender-matched norms

Have been on stable dose of PD medications for at least 30 days

Age < or = 90 years

Willing and able to give informed consent

Women of child-bearing potential may participate provided they are willing to use adequate contraceptive methods during the duration of the study. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at the screening visit and be non-lactating.

Exclusion Criteria:

Prior use of an MAO inhibitor, including selegiline or rasagiline within the last 12 months

Presence of other conditions that in the investigator's opinion may significantly cause olfactory impairment, including prior head trauma, nasal surgery, nasal inflammation causing concurrent congestion or polyps, nasal or sinus infection, prior intranasal zinc salt (Zicam) use, history of smoking within the past year

Present of a medical or surgical condition which in the opinion of the investigator would preclude participation in and completion of study procedures

Use of any experimental medication within 60 days of baseline

Use of decongestants, antihistamines, inhaled steroids within 2 weeks of baseline

Use of any medication contraindicated with use of rasagiline (Investigator will take into consideration concomitant antidepressant use as per prescribing information guidelines for rasagiline)

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01007630